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Why It Matters

by Council on Foreign Relations
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Latest episodes

  • How Demand for GLP-1s Overwhelmed the Global Drug System

    October 1, 2026 · 26 min

    GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic have become some of the world's most-wanted medicines, but soaring demand has also turned them into a stress test for the global drug system. On this episode of Why It Matters, Gabrielle Sierra and CFR Senior…

  • Honey, I Tracked the War

    April 10, 2026 · 39 min

    This episode explores how drones, cell phones, and other widely-available intelligence tools are turning civilians and aid workers into frontline witnesses—documenting war in real time, guiding humanitarian aid, and helping build evidence…

  • One Woman's Path From a U.S. College Campus to the Ukrainian Battlefield

    March 26, 2026 · 32 min

    This episode traces one young woman's journey home to a new kind of war—and Ukraine’s fight for survival.   Host:   Gabrielle Sierra, Director of Podcasting, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)   Guest:   Catarina Buchatskiy…

  • Allies, Partners, or Frenemies?

    March 11, 2026 · 38 min

    This episode outlines the global network sustaining both sides of the war in Ukraine, with NATO allies on one side and Russia with backing from China, Iran, and North Korea on the other, and how the limits and tensions within these…

  • We Are in a New Era of Warfare

    March 11, 2026 · 32 min

    This episode explores how the emergence of drone warfare and innovation under fire is transforming power and forcing nations to rethink strategy and military capacity.   Host: Gabrielle Sierra, Director of Podcasting, Council on Foreign…

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  • The Risk Report for 2026

    December 18, 2025 · 33 min

    As 2025 draws to a close, U.S. foreign policy stands at an inflection point. Under the second Trump administration, traditional alliances have been tested, a hard-edged national security strategy has been rolled out, and for the first…

  • Where Does U.S. Trade Go From Here?

    June 5, 2025 · 38 min

    The unprecedented trade policies since the beginning of this year, driven largely by the Donald Trump administration’s pro-tariff agenda, have propelled the United States into uncertain and rocky territory. When it comes to our trading…

  • Mind the Trade Gap

    June 3, 2025 · 33 min

    Is having a trade deficit necessarily a bad thing? Many experts argue that the U.S. trade deficit is largely good for our economy. It allows Americans to enjoy a wider variety of cheap goods, attracts foreign investment, and reflects the…

  • Why It Matters Live!: Food Diplomacy

    May 21, 2025 · 39 min

    Host Gabrielle Sierra and podcast guests Johanna Mendelson Forman and Matthew Costello discuss food diplomacy, share stories from White House state dinners, and unpack how food has helped to create lasting international…

  • Trade Agreements: Deal or No Deal

    May 21, 2025 · 30 min

    What role does the president have when it comes to making trade deals? In this episode, we dig into the expansive powers of the U.S. president when it comes to trade. From unilateral authority to congressional oversight, we unpack who…

  • Tariff Turmoil, Part 2: Steel and Dog Gelato

    April 30, 2025 · 33 min

    Tariffs have sparked intense debate in Washington, but their consequences land far from Capitol Hill. Tariffs can shape paychecks, shift prices for consumers, and affect markets. At best, tariffs offer short-term protection for certain…

  • Tariff Turmoil, Part 1: How Tariffs Are Affecting Farmers

    April 16, 2025 · 29 min

    Tariffs are often discussed in big, abstract terms—trade wars, economic strategy, global power struggles. But for ginseng farmers in Wisconsin, their effects are painfully personal. In this episode, Why It Matters dives into how tariffs…

Full episode archive on Apple Podcasts →

About the show

Each episode of Why It Matters breaks down an issue that is shaping our world’s future. Join host Gabrielle Sierra as she speaks with the leaders and thinkers who are facing these questions head on. Fueled by the minds at the Council on Foreign Relations, Why It Matters brings some of the world’s most compelling stories home to you.